Luiz Braga

Belém, Pará, Brazil, 1956.
Lives and works in Belém.

Luiz Braga, known as “the photographer of the Amazon,” develops his work as a photographic diary of the Amazonian landscape and way of life, focusing on everyday and symbolic life and on the intersections between nature, architecture, and people. His visual language moves between the documentary and the abstract, challenging common stereotypes about the region. He is renowned for his expressive use of equatorial light and the vibrant colors of the ports and urban outskirts of the Amazon, setting himself apart from the romanticized tropical vision so often reproduced. He is also a master of black-and-white photography, as seen in the series Nightvisions, with its creative use of digital infrared.

He represented Brazil at the 53rd Venice Biennale (2009) and has received awards such as the Leopold Godowsky Jr. Color Photography Award, the Nikon Photo Contest International, and the Marcantonio Vilaça Award. He has held exhibitions at institutions including Galeria Leme, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, MAM-SP, SESC Pinheiros, and the Museum of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). He has taken part in landmark group exhibitions such as Afro-Atlantic Histories (MASP), Brasil Futuro (National Museum of the Republic, Brasília), and L’Éloge du vertige (Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris). His works are held in collections such as the Pérez Art Museum Miami, MASP, Pinacoteca de São Paulo, among others.

Obras Selecionadas

Amanhecer no Rio Amazonas
Amanhecer no Rio Amazonas
2022
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Homem e lâmpada açaí
Homem e lâmpada açaí
1990
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Barracão Laranja
Barracão Laranja
1990
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Açaí Noturno
Açaí Noturno
1987
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Banda no Marajó
Banda no Marajó
2015
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Arquibancada Salvaterra
Arquibancada Salvaterra
2015
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Cadeira Mexicana
Cadeira Mexicana
2015
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Retirando luz vermelha
Retirando luz vermelha
1990
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Toalha na janela
Toalha na janela
2023
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 41,3 x 27,6 in
Casa rosa
Casa rosa
2011
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Futebol na praia
Futebol na praia
1988
Pigment print on photographic cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Amor e União
Amor e União
2018
Digital infrared photograph, mineral pigment print on cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Pescador e pedras
Pescador e pedras
2018
Digital infrared photograph, mineral pigment print on cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Roda Mexicana
Roda Mexicana
1990
Digital infrared photograph, mineral pigment print on cotton paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Meninos em Joanes
Meninos em Joanes
2012
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 39,4 x 39,4 in
Banho na canoa
Banho na canoa
1999
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Vendedora no porto de Santarém
Vendedora no porto de Santarém
2001
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Ouro e areia
Ouro e areia
1996
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 39,4 x 39,4 in
Bilheteria
Bilheteria
1987
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Rede no Paracauari
Rede no Paracauari
2023
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Barbeiro verde
Barbeiro verde
2013
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Rede Amarela
Rede Amarela
1988
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Dois Irmãos
Dois Irmãos
2011
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Canoa em Porto de Minas
Canoa em Porto de Minas
2012
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 39,4 x 29,5 in
Igarapé do Macaco
Igarapé do Macaco
2007
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Ajuruteua
Ajuruteua
2011
Pigment print on cotton photographic paper — 27,6 x 41,3 in
Carregando canoa
Carregando canoa
1986
Pigment on cotton photographic paper — 41, 3 x 27,6 x 1,6 in
Menino no Barbeiro
Menino no Barbeiro
1992
Print on Ilford fiber base paper, semi gloss — 15,4 x 10,2 in
Download C.V.
Belém, Brazil, 1956. Lives and works in Belém, Brazil

EDUCATION

1975

1983 Architecture, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025

Luiz Braga: imaginary archipelago (curated by Bitu Cassundé), IMS Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil; Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Amazonie: La vie au bord du fleuve (Paris Plage 2025), Maison des Célestins, Paris, France

2024

Luiz Braga: Colorista, Galeria Leme, São Paulo, Brazil

2021

Luiz Braga: Máscara, espelho e escudo (curated by Paulo Miyada and Priscyla Gomes), Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo, Brazil

2019

Interiores, retratos [e paisagens], Galeria Leme, São Paulo, Brazil

2017

Returning Humanized Nature (curated by Diógenes Moura), Vila Cultural Cora Coralina, Goiânia, Brazil

Espelho D’Água (curated by Bernardo Mosqueira), Galeria da Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2016

Returning Humanized Nature (curated by Diógenes Moura), Museu do Estado do Pará, Belém, Brazil

Light Array, Museu do Marajó, Cachoeira do Arari, Brazil

Sideral, Galeria Leme, São Paulo, Brazil

2015

Luminous Office. SESC Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil

XVI Art Prize at Escola Cidadã, Sesc Consolidation. São Paulo, Brazil

2014

Returning Humanized Nature (curated by Diógenes Moura), SESC Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil

2013

Light Delivery, Casa das 11 Janeias, Belém, Brazil

2012

Nightvisions, Galeria Leme, São Paulo, Brazil

2011

Solitude, Museu da UFPA, Belém, Brazil

Do Outro Lado da Rua, Casa das 11 Janelas, Belém, Brazil

2010

Estrada Nova S/N, Prêmio Porto Seguro de Fotografia, São Paulo, Brazil

O Percurso Do Olhar, Museu Das 11 Janelas, Belém, Brazil

2009

Vagalume, Galeria Leme, São Paulo, Brazil

2008

Crepúsculos, Casa de Cultura de Paraty, Paraty, Brazil

2007

Esculturas Caboclas, 5º. Ciclo Multicultural, Centro de Cultura Judaica, São Paulo, Brazil

O Brasil na Visualidade Popular, Caixa Cultural, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Margens da Cor, Solar do Rosário. Curitiba; Centro de Cultura Nansen Araújo- SESI, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Território da Luz, Galeria Oeste, São Paulo, Brazil

2005

Território do Olhar, Museu Vale do Rio Doce, Vitória, Brazil

Arraial da Luz, Belém, Brazil

Retratos Amazônicos, Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo – MAM, São Paulo, Brazil

2004

Luiz Braga em Preto e Branco, FNAC Curitiba, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2003

Caixa de Luz, X Salão Arte Pará, Galeria da Residência, Belém, Brazil

Belém Revelada, Shopping Iguatemi, Belém, Brazil

2000

Fotografia de Luiz Braga, IV Colóquio Literatura, Política e Políticas Culturais, ISPA – Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisbon, Portugal

Desenhos do Olhar, 3ª Bienal Internacional de Fotografia, Memorial de Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil

1994

Fotografias Luiz Braga, Bi-Pi´s Kulturgalerie, Cologne, Germany

Anos Luz, IV Semana de Fotografia de Curitiba, Sala Theodoro de Bona, Curitiba; I Semana Paraibana de Fotografia, Fundação Espaço Cultural da Paraíba, João Pessoa; Centro de Artes da Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil

1993

Luiz Braga, Pulitzer Art Gallery, Amsterdan, Netherlands

1992

Anos Luz, Galeria Theodoro Braga, Belém; Museu de Arte Assis Chateaubriand-MASP, São Paulo, Brazil

Luiz Braga, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026

Morar na cor, Flexa Galeria, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Delírio Tropical – Recanto (curated by Orlando Maneschy, Keyla Sobral), Sesc Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil

2025

Adiar o fim do mundo (curated by Ailton Krenak and Paulo Herkenhoff), FGV Arte, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

VI Bienal de Montevidéo, "Amazonas Ancestral" (curated by Alfons Hug), Palácio legislativo de Montevidéo, Montevideo, Uruguay

…na floresta dos signos e das coisas…, Galeria de arte Graça Landeira, Museu de arte Unama, Belém, Brazil

Mondes en commun, poursuivre l’inventaire d’Albert Kahn, Musée départemental Albert-Kahn, Boulogne-Billancourt, France

Histórias do MASP (curated by Adriano Pedrosa, Regina Teixeira de Barros, Guilherme Giufrida and Laura Cosendey), Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

2024

Delírio Tropical (curated by Orlando Maneschy), Pinacoteca do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

Novos Olhares Sobre O Mabe – Intercâmbio Museu /Comunidade [ Ver-O-Peso] (curated by Nina Matos), Museu de Arte de Belém, Belém, Brazil

Mostra Fullgás – Artes visuais e anos 1980 no Brasil (curated by Raphael Fonseca), Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro; Brasília; Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Arte Pará 2024 – Um norte transcursos – caminhos (curated by Nina Matos), Casa das Onze Janelas, Belém, Brazil

Festa, sambas e outros carnavais, Museu do Pontal, Centro Culturas Bienal das Amazônias, Belém, Brazil

Amazonias. El futuro ancestral (curated by Claudi Carreras), centro de cultura contemporânea de Barcelona, Ala de Rios de Cultura, Barcelona, Spain

100 anos de arte brasileira (curated by Jacopo Crivelli), Pavilhão da Bienal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

2023

Conversas entre Coleções, Instituto Casa Roberto Marinho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

O sagrado na Amazônia (curated by Paulo Herkenhoff), Instituto Inclusartiz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Máscara, maré, memória (curated by Mateus Nunes), LIMA Galeria, São. Luís, Brazil

Elementar: Fazer Junto (curated by Cauê Alves), MAM-SP, São Paulo, Brazil

Nuances de brasilidade – repertório (curated by Cecília Fortes), Centro Cultural PGE-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Imagens que não se conformam (curated by Aldrin Figueiredo and Paulo Knauss), Museu do Estado do Pará, Pará, Brazil

Brasil futuro: as formas da democracia (curated by Márcio Tavares, Lilia Schwarcz and Paulo Vieira), Museu Nacional da República, Casa das 11 Janelas, Museu Solar Ferrão, Brasília, Pará, Bahia, Brazil

Povo Cabano, Arquivo Público do Pará, Pará, Brazil

AWARDS

2020

Prize for Contemporary Art, Fundação Bienal de São Paulo

2019

Chico Albuquerque Prize for Photography

2018

International Photography Award, Museu de Arte Moderna

Rumos Itaú Cultural

2014

Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte (APCA), Best photography exhibition, Retumbante Natureza Humanizada, SESC Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil

2009

Marcantonio Vilaça Prize

2008

14° Salão da Bahia

2001

Nikon Photo Contest International

1993

Porto Seguro Prize Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil

1990

The Leopold Godowsky Jr Color Photography Awards, Boston University, EUA

1988

Marc Ferrez Prize, Instituto Nacional da Fotografia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

COLLECTIONS

Art at Swiss Re, Zurich, Switzerland

BESart- Banco Espírito Santo Collection, Lisbon, Portugal

Biblioteca Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Itaú Collection of Brazilian Photography, Brazil

Centre Culturel Les Chiroux, Belgium

Centro Português de Fotografia, Porto, Portugal

Porto Seguro Photography Prize Collection São Paulo, Brazil

ARCO Foundation, Madrid, Spain

Rômulo Maiorana Foundation, Belém, Brazil

Cultural Foundation, Brazil

Tancredo Neves Pará Cultural Foundation, Belém, Brazil

Vitae Foundation, São Paulo, Brazil

Instituto Nacional de Artes Plásticas/ Funarte, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Instituto Nacional de Fotografia / Funarte, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Instituto Cultural Itaú, Banco de Dados Culturais, Setor Fotografia no Brasil

Ministério Público do Estado do Pará. Painel Fotográfico. Belém, Brazil

Museu Casa das 11 Janelas, Belém, Brazil

Museu da Universidade Federal do Pará, Brazil

Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil

Museu de Arte Contemporânea da USP – MAC/USP, São Paulo, Brazil

Museu de Arte Assis Chateaubriand – MASP, Coleção Pirelli/ Masp de Fotografia. São Paulo, Brazil

Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo – MAM, São Paulo, Brazil

Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Museu de Arte do Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Museu de Arte do Centro Cultural Brasil Estados Unidos. Belém, Brazil

Museu de Arte da Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Museu de Arte de Belém, Brazil

Museu de Imagem e Som do Ceará, MIS Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

Museu Nacional da República, Brasília, Brazil

Petróleo Brasileiro S/A- Petrobrás.Painel Fotográfico. Belém, Brazil

Photographic Resource Center at Boston University, Boston, EUA

Pérez Art Museum, Miami, United States

Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil

Schoepflin Stiftung: The Collection, Lörrach, Germany

Secretaria da Cultura do Estado do Pará. Belém, Brazil

SESC, São Paulo, Brazil

Sistema Integrado de Museus do Estado do Pará, Brazil

Statoil Art Collection, Oslo, Norway

Luiz Braga comentando suas obras

Março de 2020

Metrópolis

TV Cultura

Luiz Braga

Retumbante Natureza Humanizada

  • LUIZ BRAGA AND OPAQUE PHOTOGRAPHY

    By TADEU CHIARELLI Toque-toque Grande – SP, 2005 With his essay Photography, featured in issue n. 49/50 of the journal Camera Work , U.S. photographer Paul Strand seeks to set early 20th-century photography apart from the painting and printing traditions that informed the pictorialist movement of that time. For photography to reach its ultimate purity, […]

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